tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390876285955310032.post7094637313753285684..comments2024-03-26T14:48:15.857-07:00Comments on Rocket Stack Rank: Bringing Down the Sky, by Alan BaoGreg Hullenderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16720604327299886491noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390876285955310032.post-51982748944752070482019-04-28T16:55:23.767-07:002019-04-28T16:55:23.767-07:00Yeah that definitely makes sense. I personally enj...Yeah that definitely makes sense. I personally enjoyed Dhampa as a character, but definitely agree that the others were kind of half-baked. Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13775507907460079954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390876285955310032.post-27711913646583706852019-04-17T09:33:09.804-07:002019-04-17T09:33:09.804-07:00Usually if a story has some really strong elements...Usually if a story has some really strong elements, like a clever setting, but also has some really weak elements, like bad science, I'll give it a rating of "three stars: Mixed" meaning it's too bad to recommend but too good to recommend against.<br /><br />In this case, though, I didn't think the plot sophistication and character development made up for the unbelievability of the premise. That plus the fact that I didn't like any of the characters.<br /><br />As for importing air, I'm sure it would always be far cheaper just to filter the local air.Greg Hullenderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16720604327299886491noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1390876285955310032.post-10443313702944648492019-04-14T17:00:08.043-07:002019-04-14T17:00:08.043-07:00Although I agree that the "imported air"...Although I agree that the "imported air" concept was difficult to believe in, I had a much more positive reaction to the story. It seemed that Alan Bao sidestepped the focus on scientific speculation to concentrate on developing a complex set of characters from interconnected, yet diverse backgrounds. With that in mind, I sort of forgave the shallow "imported air" idea.<br /><br />That being said, the idea that we might have to "import air" into overpopulated areas in the near future doesn't seem so far-fetched. Agreeing that the bottling of air doesn't seem like a well thought-out solution, it does at least provoke speculation about what those solution could be.<br /><br />Would you have recommended the story of the solution transporting air was more convincing?Jonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13775507907460079954noreply@blogger.com